Apply to the office that genuinely fits you. A referral should support the candidate, not force you into the referrer's location.

The consulting referrals guide explains why the quality of the recommendation usually matters more than treating office location as a mechanical match.

Your target office will still evaluate local fit and hiring need. Be ready to explain why you chose that geography.

If the referrer knows your office preference, even better. Their recommendation can then reinforce that your choice is intentional rather than random.

My referrer was in Chicago and I applied NYC. No issue.

Strong referral in another office > weak referral in target office.